Good, better, Serena? Karolina Pliskova is surprisingly aggressive against tournament favourite Serena Williams before the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Karolina Pliskova is always good for surprises. Conchita Martinez, for example, who was hired as a coach by the 26-year-old Czech at short notice and initially only for the duration of the US Open, had to smile much more than originally expected at their first dinner with their protégé in New York City.
“I thought Karolina was a quiet person. But actually she is very talkative and laughs a lot”, Martinez said to WTA-Insider and said: “It is the same as with me. but I open myself up when I trust people.”
And maybe Conchita Martinez (46), 1994 Wimbledon winner, will be in the upcoming quarter-finals of Pliskova against superstar Serena Williams (USA) on Tuesday. After all, the Spanish coach sat in her compatriot Garbine Muguruza’s box when she won the most important world tennis title at London’s Church Road in 2017 – in the final against Venus Williams, Serena’s older sister.
A good omen, if you like, a small but fine tessera in the mental preparation of the newly married Pliskova for the big match. On the biggest of all tennis stages (23,771 spectators) – against perhaps the best female player of all time.
Anyway, Pliskova, winner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2018, doesn’t see herself at all as an outsider and surprised with an announcement that is fierce for her circumstances. “I have the game to beat them,” emphasized the 2018 World Rankings night in Flushing Meadows: “I know Serena also has a great game, but I do too. I have a good serve and weapons, too. So I’m sure there’s a chance for me.”
At her home slam, Williams is on her way to becoming the old Serena exactly one year after the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia. The former industry leader needed three sets against Kaia Kanepi (Estonia), but the Wimbledon finalist looks much fitter than at the French Open in June, for example.
And 36-year-old Williams, in the Big Apple on the hunt for her seventh record flushing meadows title since 1999, has great respect for Karolina Pliskova. “It will be an interesting match. She has a strong serve and a really good forehand. Karolina doesn’t do much wrong, after all she was number one last year, there is a reason for that,” she said.
Williams also wants revenge for her last defeat at the US Open so far. In 2016, the exceptional Florida player unexpectedly lost 2-6, 6-7 to 1.86m tall Pliskova, who then lost to Angelique Kerber (Kiel) in the final. The balance between the Czech and Serena Williams is balanced (1:1).
But last but not least Conchita Martinez would be very happy if her new protégé had every reason to laugh after the duel against the tournament favourite.